Well-known Member

Originally posted by JamieL:<br /><strong>In the news section of What Hi Fi they mention a 32" Hitachi plasma screen that will go on sale this/next month and will retail at £1600!! I presume this is the Platara.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Guest

£1600 or not a 32" plasma display will NOT out-perform a good 32" conventional direct view crt set (with the exception of geometry alone). the only "advantage/superiority" will be of a cosmetic/ego nature. (progressive scan not with-standing)<br />Plasma technolgy is still flawed (although SOME deficiencies may be less noticable with a reduction in panel size)<br />This is fact. (take it or leave it)

Active Member

This is definately incorrect. Pretty certain the list price on the Platara is £5000. Empire Direct are selling it for £4484. Philips also do a 32" for a similar price (a bit more I think). Steves right about the quality compared to CRT. In my opinion, anybody thinking about these sets must be crazy not to go a bit further and get a 42". That said about the quality, I'm considering the Panasonic 42".

Active Member

Sorry Dave, you whipped your post in there just as I was typing mine. I know you were asking Steve so I hope you don't mind my two pence worth. I've seen quite a few plasmas going back to first generation Philips and Grundig models. More recently I've seen the newer Philips, Sony, Fujitsu, Marantz, Pioneer and Panasonic models. They all seem to exhibit the same problems such as the inability to produce deep blacks and excessive grain. Also colours seem to be rendered in layers as opposed to one seemless transition. I know this is what all the magazines have said, but get out there and demo them because its actually true. The Panasonic however amazed me. It is virtually indistinguishable from my 36pf10 and apparantly I wasn't even watching in Progressive scan! Plasmas are getting better and are definately very desirable so if you've got the money, enjoy. I've followed them pretty closely and I'm sure I'll end up with one soon.

Guest

Thanks Tim.<br /> You mentioned the Panasonic being as good as a CRT, well this month What HiFi (take with a pinch of salt) were very impressed with the new Fujitsu PDS4229E. I wonder if this is the time where plasma screens really are viable alternatives to the a CRT at least technically. I reckon they still have quite a way to go before the man on the street will cough up for one.

Well-known Member

Originally posted by Timh:<br /><strong>Just heard from David Hobbs the distributer for the Platara, it retails at £5000.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Told you so!

Plasma is coming on leaps and bounds. 6 months is a long time in Plasma technology. I seriously looked at this in February / March this year. The Panny w3 was in a different league to all competition. The w4 is now iminent from Panasonic but I dont know what the competition is like. I would certainly look at NEC and Panny before any purchase. I think NEC has actually overtaken Fujitsu re the number of panels they produce. I have gone CRT as the picture is better IMHO but I dont want to get into that debate here.

Ask to see contrast figures and test it with a sci fi movie with lots of dark black space. If they refuse on either walk away. Dont bother watching Toy Story, it looks great on everything.

Plasmas are a VERY rapidly changing field, consider 6 months a long time.